Dry valve for automatic sprinkler systems.



pressure on the two valves and ho valve 19 as by one or more interposed links 21 which are preferably nearly or substantially vertical or perpendicular to the face of the water valve undernormal holding conditions and which may be in the form Dfi two similar link members 21 on the two sides of the reducing leverand which ma. have their ends permanently connected y the link pins 22, 23 coperating with suitable enlarged holes inthe reducing lever andy water valve which mal); be loosely pivoted about the water valve inge or pin 18, in the bracket 17 The balance weight ofV any suit' able form, such as 10, may with advantage be pivcted within the casing so as to swing for instance, about the weight pivot 12 and the weight contact or pin 13 extending between the two separated portions of this' heavy weight may engage the end of the reducing lever 14 so as to exert the roper lld the striker 11 which ma be in the form of a reduced ne'ck or bri ge connecting the two parts of the cast iron or other Vbalance weight considerably out of contact with the reducing lever under normal conditions.

Under normal holding conditions the parts of the valve are in substantially the. position shown in Fig.: 1 in which the balance weight which may amount to 40 or 50 pounds more or less can exert through the loose compensating connections a closing force or pressure in the neighborhood of 200 pounds more or less to the square inch of its working face, tending to hold the water valve closed, while at the same time an opening force of something like 10 pounds to the square inch is exerted on the air valve tending to open it unless resisted bv the usual air pressure in the connected sprinkler flistributii'ig` system. lThis loosely pivoted reducing lever and the roperating connections insure the definite application of the predetermined pressures on these two valves regardless of l'he exact size of parts, such as length of levers and links., so that there is no need for any screw or other line manual adjustment in order to bring the valves and f :onncctions into proper bearing. When under emergency conditions the air rassure is reduced or released above the air valve the lifting pressure thereon becomes suf- :auen

ficient to open this valve .which raises the 'lifting lever and simultaneously llows the other end ofthe reducing 'lever o fall, so that it no longer supports the balance weight. T his Aheavy weightthen descends and the striker can thus exert an impact blow on the reducing lever to eilectively re. lease the valves and connections and quickly swing the reducing lever and air valve linked thereto out of the llow passage. This action may be facilitated bg providing a suitable socket 15 on this re ucing lever in such position as to co crate with the project-ion or turning stu 16 on the bracket 17, these parts bein normall out of contact as shown in Fig. 1, ut adap ed to be forced into contact by the releasing action described so that under emergency conditions the arts assume the full line position shown ih i 2. In this way there is little or no inter erenoe with the substantially straight flow passage through the valve, and the water valve and connections secured thereeis.A

to are definitely held in this position by the y balance weight. Thevalve may be readily reset after the waterhas been turned o' and drained by c ening the setting door 25 and -be held up out 'of the way until the two valves are cleaned and closed and the connections all brought into normal position when the balance weight may be released from the setting latch and lowered after the normal air pressure is put upon the distributing system so as, to releasably hold these valves closed so long as this air pressure is maintained in the system, the setting door being of course tightly closed when this setting is completed.

This invention has been described in connection with a number of illustrative embodiments, forms, proportions, numbers, arrangements of parts, and materials, to the details of which disclosure the invention is 'not of course to be limited, since what is claimed :is new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

l. ln dry valves fori automatic sprinkler systems, a valve. casing comprising a booth a water supply connection formed in said casing, n sprinkler connection formed in said hood substantially in line with Said water supply connection, a pivoted water valve in said casing to normally close Vsaid water supply connection, a` pivotcd air valve in said hood normally closing access to said sprinkler connection and substantially in line with said water supply and sprinkler connections, a lifting lever pivoted in said casing and having a loose pin and slot connection with said air valve, a reducing lever in said casing havin a lftin pin to cooperate with a. notch in said li ting lever, a link loosely pivoted to said reducing lever u balance weight pivotcd in sind casing and having e. Weight hold s'nid water valve closed end, exert a reduced lifting action on Said airvelveya projecting bracket in said casing and ii coperating socket in said reducing lever adapted to come into contact with said bracket but normally out of contact therewith and a striker on seidbalance wei ht normally ont of contact with said reducing lever and adapted to exert an impact blow on seid v conditions to release and open said va ves and' to swing sind reducing lever and water valve waiter supply connection, ii pivoted nir valve in seid hood normally closing access to Said sprinkler connection and substantially in line with seid water supply and sprinkler connections. n lifting lever pivoted' in said :ind having :i loose connection with said mr vulve, n reducing lever in said casing havingr :i liftinc,r pin to coperatie with ii notch in scid lifting lever. a link loosely pivoted to said reducing levei` and to said ivnlcr vulve, n liziluncevweight in Said casin;r and h.ivin,gr :i wei ht contact adapted to nornnilly cngngze siii rcdiicin lever fidjilcent its end to normally holi said water vulve closed und exert :i reduced lifting nclion on sniil uii vnlve, fi projeclin in siiiil casing nnflii striker on siii wciglil nornnilly ont of reducing lever unil iiilnpteil to exert up im? pnct blow on said rerliicinp,r lever ii'ndci' emergency conditions to release rind open sniil vnlvos.

Il. [n lry vnlvcs for nutninuti'c sprinkler systemsn vnlvc casingr comprising` ii linoil. :i ivnlcr supply connection formed in siliil casing; n sprinkler connection foi-mcd in sniil hood snbstnnliiilly in line with siiid viii lcr'siipply connection, :i pivotcil waitin' vnlvn in snid casing! to norinnlly closesiiirl wiitor supply connectionjn Vivotcrl-uir viilvc in scid hood nornnilly e osing access to siiii'l sprinkler connection :mil substantially in line ivitli sniil wntcr supply und sprinkler connections, n lifling' lever 'pivotcil in siiiil cnsing :mil having :i loosi` connection ,with

balance i of contact" witlifsaid red `eiiipply connection mi sind water vulve closednnd exert a p bril cket l coiiliict with siiiil siiidair valve, ii reducing lever in said ciis- 65 ing tofcoperate with said lifting lever, a link connectin seidreducing lever to said `writer valve. a iiilanoe weight 'n scid casing and having a. iveiglit contact adapted to nor molly en ge sind reducing lever to nor mullv holnsaid water valve closed 'and exert a re uced litin action on said air vulve, a. pro'ecting'lirac casing and a stri' er on seid balence weight normally out ucing lever` and adapted to exert im impact blow on `said reducing lever under emeigency conditions to releiise'and open said 'vii ves. y

'4. .In dry vlves for automatic sprinkler systems, iiA ilnlve. casin comprising e water u sprinkler conneclion,v ii pivoted water valve in said casing to normal y close scid water sup'lf1 connection, u pivoted air valve .normal y access to said sprinkler connection substantially in line with saidwnter supply and sprinkler connections, l. lifting lever pivoted in sind casing und having n loose pin und slot connection with said air valve, n compensiitin reduci-ng lever in unid casing having n -li ting pin to coperatie with an alining recess in said lifting ver, a link connection loose. between scid rcducin lever and said ivnter.'viilve,a .balance we ig .t p

ing lever adjacent its end to normally hold terinined lifting action on scid nir bracket but normally out Vof conhict therewith, and n striker on sind balance weight normally oiit of contact with siiid reducingr lever and iiiliipted to exert im impart blow on seid reducing;r lever under emergency conditions to release und oicn sniil vulves nml to swingr siiiil reducing over und wnler vulve iu'onnil sniil liinclfet' und sullsliiiitinlly ont of.'liiie with said sprinkler unil` waiter suppl cminectioris.

5. lli dry vulves for niitonnilic sprinkler systems. :i vulve cnsinf.: 1coniprisingr ii wnloi supply `coni'iection :mil n sprinkler connection, n waiter vnlvc in sniil fusing to norinnllv close sniil n'nlcr supplyl comici-lion, nn nii' vulve no-rnnilllv elosinni iii-cess lo snid sprinkler connection sulislnnliiilly in liuc Willi siiiil willi-r supply unil sprinkler ronncctinns, ii lifting' lever pvoled in sniil rusini; iinillinving :i loosil pin nini sl'ol' conncction with sniil nir vulve` :i coinpcnsntinigr rciliifiniir lever in s niil rinsing linviiig n lifling pin `to coiipernle willi :in :ilining recess in siiid lifting lci'cr, ii liilf connection loose between `siiiil reducing lever nnfl siiid water vnlvc, ii lniliinc weight pivolcfl in sii id cnsing and having a closed and exert av predetermined reduced lifting action on said air valve, a projectin bracket in said casing and a striker on sai balance weight normull out of contact with said reducing lever an adapted to exert an impact blow on said reducing lever under emergency conditions to release and open said valves and to swing said reducing lever and water valve substantially out of line with said sprinkler and water supply connections.

(i. In dry valves for automatic sprinkler systems, a valve casing colnprising'a water supply connection and a sprinkler connection, a water valve insaid casing to normally close said 'water supply connection, an airvalve normally closing access to said sprinkler' connection substantially in line with said water su ply and sprinkler conncctions, a lifting evice in saidrcasing and having a loose pm and slot connection with said air valve, a mnnpensating reducing lever in said casing having a lifting pin to coperatie with said lifting device, a link connection in said casing and adapted lto normally acl'. on said reducing lever `to normally holdA said water valve closed and exert a predetermined reduced lifting action on said air valve, a projecting bracket in said casing and a striker onsaid balance weight normally out of contact. with said reducing lever and adapted to exert an impact blow on said reducing lever under emergency conditions to release. and open said valves and to swing saidy reducing lever and water valve substantially out of line with said sprinkler and water supply connections.

7. In dry valves for automatic sprinkler systems, a valve casing comprising a water supply connection and a rinkler connection, a water valve in sai casing to normally close' said Water supply connection, and air valve normally closing access to said sprinkler connection substantially in line with said water supply and rinkler connections, a lifting device in Sai casing and having a loose pin and slot connection with said air valve, a Weight and 'a compensating reducing lever in said casingi 'having a lifting pin to coperate with sai lifting device, a link connection adapted to normally coperatie with said reducin levei to normally hold said water valve c osed and exert a proportionately reduced lifting action on said air valve.A

8. 1n dry valves forl automatic sprinkler. systems, a valve, casing comprising a Water supply connection and a sprinkler connection a water valve Yin said casing to nor-` mal y close said water supply connection,

l ing and adapted to normally an air valve normally closing said sprinkler connection, a liftin device secured in said casing and having a cose pin and slot pcrma nent connection with said air'valve, an aulomatically compensating reducing lever in said casing having a lifting pin to cooperate. with an alining recess in said lifting dcvice, a link loosely pivoted to said reducing lever and to said water valve, a balance weight pivoted in said casing and having a weight Contact adapted to normally act on said reducing lever adjacent its end to nor-- mally holdsaid water valve closed by (he ii'cctive component of said weight exerted thereon and to exert a reduced li ting action on said airvalvc.

9. In dry valves for automatic sprinkler systems, a valve casing comprising a water supply connection and a sprinkler connec tion, a` water valve in said casing to normall close said water supply connection, an au' valve normally closing said sprinkler connection, a lifting device secured in said casing and having a loose connection with said air valve, an automatically compensating reducing levern said easing to cooperate with said lifting device, a link pivotr-:l to said reducing lever and to said water valve,

a balance Weight pivoted in said casing and having a Weight contact adapted to normally act on said reducing lever adjacent its end tonormally hold said water valve closed by the effective component of said weight exerted thereon and to exert a proportion atelyv reduced lifting action on said air Valve.

10. In dry valves for automatic sprinkler systems, a valve casing comprising a water supply connection and a sprinkler connection, a water valve in said casing to normally close said Water supply connection, au air valve, normally closing said sprinkler connection, a lifting device secured in said easing and having a loose connection with said air vulvc,`an automatically compensating reducing lever in Said casing to copcrate with 4said lifting device, a connection between said reducin llever and said water valve, a balance Weig t pivoted in said casact on said reducing lever to normally old said Water valve closed and exert a proportionately reduced lifting action on said air valve.

11In dry valves for automatic sprinkler systems, a valve casing comprising a. Water supply connection and a s rinkler eonnee tion, a water valve norma ly closing said water supply connection, an air valve normally closing said sprinkler connection and v loose compensating connections between said air valve and said Water valve and co1nprising a lifting lever pivoted in said casing and connected to said `air valve a reducing lever loosely connected to 'said' water valve lll() and copm'nliugnilh :in :dining ruuljs's in Suid lifting luren', :l bnlnnri, weight pivotcd inv Suid cus-lng nud :n.lnptvd lo nornmllv :n'l on Said reducing luwr lo hohl said wnlvr ynlw closed :unl oxvrt n lviluiml lifting :wlion ou said nir mirc und n slrilnr ou sind wvipghl adapted to uxorl nu inlpnvl blow on said von nections und open suid wntvr vnlw.

12. In dry vulves for nuloumlii' sprinklinsystexns, a vulrv Lansing voxnprisingr n iwniur Supply connection nud :l spriukhr vouum'- tion, a Wulmvnlw nornnilly closing said wnternupply connection, :un nir rnlvv nor nnilly closing snid sprinklor vouiwrlion und loose ooinpvnsnting nonni-ol ions bvtwvvn .sniil ui'r vulve und sind wnlo'r vnlvv :unl conn-- prisin a vlifting device in said using vounectm to snid air valve. :if rmlucing h-wr loosely connected lo said mslm' vulve nud ,coi'ipol'uliugr with unr nliping rui-oss lu Suid lifting device, n balance weight pivolml in sind casing und adapted to .normally :nrt on said reducing lever to hohl said wntvr rnlw. rlobod nud oxurt :i rvdnn'vxl lifting iwlion on said nir vnlwnud u strikvr on sniil wvighl ndupl'vd to cxvrl nn inlpzul blow on said ooxuwctions :unl open Suid 'ntvr-vnlvv.

13. In dry vulvvs for nnlonnuir' sprinkler sysvms, n vnlvi cnsn comprising n waiter 4supply connvciion mn u sprinklvr oonnvction, a wauw vulve normally dosing said water supply connection, un nir vnlvc normally closing: snd spriuklor vonnvvlion :unl loosiI compensating uonnvvtions bot-Wynn said nir vulvo und said wntr mlm und comprising n lifting n levicv in said vnsiug vonuevicd to said uirfvulw. u mlm-ing lever loosely connovlvd to Suid wntvr vub/tl and coperating with said lifting doviuo, n bnlnnce weight xulnplvil (o normallyzu'i` on said r dnmng )Mur (o Vhold snid wnlvr vnlvi closml und exert, n proportionnwly rvdnvod lifting action on said nir valve,

14. ln dry vulves for nnlonnntin sprinkler systvlns, a vulve casino comprising n water supply connection un n sii-inklcr connue` tion, u water ulve norma ly dosing said wutvr supply. c1 nncg'tion, nu nir vulve normally closing said sprinkler vonnoci ion und loose uompnnsnting connections bot non Suid nir valve :und said watvr vnvv mul comprisingl al rnclncing lover loosvly vonnm'tml to sind wut-vr vulve und buying-n soif n'lining connevtiou with said nir vulva. n bnlanio weight pivolml in said cnsinp; and mlnpled to normally uvt on said reducing lover to hold said wnllr vulve closml und vxert n reduced lifting ncl-ion on snd nir volw sind n striker on snid weight auinptvd to vxvrt Aan impact blow on said connections und open said water vulve.

l 15. In dry 'valves for nutomul'ic sprinkler systems, n valvp casin onprisng n Vv'vatl' supply `connection' an a spl'mkler connecnmlly rlosing :will `sprinllvr vounvolion :lull loosv vouipvnsulilw muuu-vl ions bi-t n'i-vu Asnid nir rulw :unl snnl nnlvr mln' und vouiprising' :i rmluviup.r lvwr loosvly voulu-lul 4[o said wnlvn \':|l\u und haring :L soli' alliuing `vonlnilion will] Huid :lir Vnlvl 'und :i bnlnnvv weight :ulnpiud lo norumlly uvt vulvu closed by tlnI oll'w'liw vonipolnnt, of Hamill wvight oxvrlml ihm-vou :unl lo lxorl. n proporlionntvly rvdln'ml liliiilgnction on snidnir vnlvv. y

i6. ln dry vnlws l'or uulomntio sprinkler systmns. u valve raisin oolnpris'nng,` u walter supply vonnvvtion :unl :1 sprinkle; connecli'on, n waiter volw. nornnllly closing. said' oil 17. ln dry vnlvus for automatic sprinkler I systems, n vnlvv unsin comprising u, water supply connection um u. sprinkler connection, n wutm volvo normally closing said wutor supply connection, nn nir valve nornmlly closing snid sprinklor commotion und loose compensating connections between said nir vulve und said water vulve und romprisinf n bnlnno weight lo hold s-.iid'm'uter vn vo closed by Who vll'vtive ompxmont' of said wi'iv'hlY vxorled llnlcon :indio `0x01-t' a x'idnrvd lifting notion on said nirvulvo. l 18. In dry vnlws for nlltonmtic Sprinkler syst unis, n raising Inn' ingslr a Winter member nornmlly nndvr lhu prvssnre -of thowuter snp ly lo thi.l systuin, nn nir member nornml y nndvr (he prvssure ofltho nir from tho distributing system und conlpensatin connections between said nii' member un said water monibcr and comprising a reducing.;r lover to exert roddel-mined proportionale forces on snicl) water 'mombox und Suid nir member.

' 19. In dry vulves for automatic sprinklvr systvins, u volvo casing having a water vulve nornmlly mntrnlhng tho wam-r supply to the systvm. an nir nwmbr-r nornmlly under nir -prossuro from ille distributing system `und cmnpvnsnting vonlwvtions belwcen said :nir 'nnmbir :unl said water vulve und vom` prising n bnlnnve wei ht and u connected reducing lvvfr to hod said water` vulve closd solely by the effective ('omponont of said weight exu1-ivd thereon and lo vxort a proportionlely renuccd forno on said nir member. y

20. In drv vaives for automatic sprinkler said nii member anni to holci said water valve systems, nvalve casing having a water valve closed solely by the efectiva force-exerted 10 normally controlling the water supply to thereon by said weight.

the system, an air member normally under JOHN R HAMILTON air pressure from the distributing system u and com ensating connections between said Witnesses:

air mem er end said water valve and com- HARRY L. DUNCAN,

prising a balance weight to exert -force on Jnesm B. KAY. 

